After the sudden death of her estranged father, Claire Thompson returns to her childhood home, an old mansion perched on the cliffs of a small coastal town. As she sifts through his belongings, she discovers clues suggesting her father was involved in a long-forgotten mystery-a disappearance that had never been solved. Claire begins to investigate, only to find that the town holds many secrets, and uncovering them may put her own life at risk.
The air was damp, carrying the scent of salt and earth from the sea below. Claire Thompson stood on the porch of her childhood home, staring at the old mansion that loomed in the distance like a forgotten ghost. The place hadn't changed in the five years since she last visited. The ivy still clung to the stone walls, the windows still held the weight of secrets, and the front door creaked as if protesting her return.
The phone call had come at 3:30 p.m. A woman from the lawyer's office in town had informed her of her father's passing. "We're sorry for your loss," she had said, as if those words would make a difference. Claire had barely known her father, and the few memories she had were clouded by a mixture of disappointment and anger.
Her relationship with Henry Thompson had been strained ever since her teenage years, when she had left home to escape the rigid expectations he had for her. As an acclaimed historian in their small coastal town, he had always been more absorbed in his research and lectures than in being a father. Now, standing at the edge of his domain, Claire felt the weight of unresolved issues press upon her.
The lawyer had asked if Claire wanted to come by the office for the details of the will. But Claire had refused. Instead, she had opted to visit the house first-her inheritance, her obligation. Her only connection to the man who had been little more than a shadow in her life.
Inside, the house smelled of musty books and old furniture, the remnants of a time long past. Claire made her way to the study, her father's sanctuary. The room was as she remembered-lined with shelves of books, papers scattered across the desk, a half-open window letting in the cool breeze from the cliffs. But something was different. A letter sat on the desk, its envelope addressed to her.
Curious, she picked it up. The handwriting was unmistakable-her father's elegant, yet precise script. The letter was short, its message clear: "If you ever return, there is something you must know."
The words echoed in her mind as Claire slowly sat down in the chair that had once belonged to her father. The letter felt heavy in her hands, a beacon drawing her deeper into the mystery of a life she had left behind, a life that now seemed to hold more questions than answers.
Lena Everwood, a young woman, discovers that she has inherited a family legacy full of hidden magic and ancient secrets. She learns that she belongs to a secret order tasked with maintaining the balance of the world. However, dark forces threaten to destroy humanity's future, and Lena must find a way to stop them while learning about her own power, her mysterious family history, and her connection to an ancient prophecy.
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
Their marriage was nothing but for the benefit of the two families. He could choose anyone to be his bride, but the moment he laid his eyes on her, he knew she was the one he wanted. However, their marriage didn't last for a long because of her indifference. Until the moment he signed the divorce agreement, he finally witnessed her true colors. It turned out that she also took advantage of him. Their divorce was not an end but the start of the real love game.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.